Taking heart from the apparent lack of real hostility in the manner of his captors, Timokles asked for something to eat.

He was understood, and the three, taking Timokles, turned from the hills, and proceeded eastward, till, coming to a black tent near some palms, the woman went in and brought Timokles some barley cakes.
While the boy ate, the two men, still watching him, betook themselves to work.

They seemed to be makers of idols.

The father was carving a small wooden statuette of the god Thoth.

The son worked on a larger idol, the goddess Apet, or Thoueris, in the shape of a hippopotamus walking upright on hind feet.